we're a couple trekking from Chame to Jomsom in May, and considering taking a taxi from Kathmandu to Besisahar on the morning of the 12th. Anyone interested in sharing the ride, let me know.
Will also appreciate any information (availability/costs) on taxis and direct minivans on this route at this time of the year.
cheers
Sandeep
I don't know about taxis for this sort of journey - I have only used taxis for trips in Ktm and the immediate area.
I have done AC 4 times, and last time, in Jan 2016, we (my guide and I) used the micro bus from Ktm to BS. This took 6 hours with a sensible (young) driver, including stops for drinks, toilet and lunch. Looking at my notes I did not record the cost, but from memory it was about NR600 per person. You can get the microbuses from the ring road about 3-400 metres east of the "new" bus station - it it a bit confusing, but if you keep asking, or better still have a Nepali with you, you should be able to find where the BS micro buses leave from.
We walked all the way from BS, so did not look at or ask about transport from there, but there are some regular buses going to Bhulbhule and perhaps further. After a certain point, it is only specialist 4 x 4s, driven by local drivers who know the route well - parts of this "road" are really hairy - you are right next to an unprotected edge with a massive drop. These parts will be slow, for very good reasons...
Hey..thanks RD...that's some real useful info.
We do have our regular guide from Pokhara joining us at Besisahar. Since we are getting into KTM late on the 11th, and since there seems to be no way to prebook seats on the microbus (or even make sure they're running at this time of the year), we'd be left with no option but to prebook seats on a tourist bus till Dumre and then somehow get to Besisahar on the 12th. However, if we had the option of a cpl of folks to split costs, I believe a taxi upto besisahar can be hired for 100-125 USD, which would still make sense considering the logistical ease.
Any info on the micro buses or such taxis will help!
Micro buses have become much more popular with Nepalis in the past 5 years or so, and there now seem to be lots of them going to many places. I think they have become more popular because they are quicker than the public buses (partly because they stop less often), are less uncomfortable and not that much more expensive.
I was the only foreigner on the micro bus Ktm to BS in Jan 2016 - everyone else was Nepali, only one was to do with trekking (my guide). I think we just turned up on the morning we travelled - but I am not certain. We got the 9.30 bus from Ktm (which then got stuck in traffic on the Ktm ring road...), but from memory the MBs start running at about 6 or 7am to BS (so if we had got an earlier one, we could have got further that first day than Ngadi, but I was being lazy re not getting up early). As the MBs for BS seemed to leave every 30 minutes, I would have thought that you would have a good chance of getting on one if you just turn up.
There are some places that MBs do not go to, usually I think because the roads are too rough. The "other" Nepali I know, whose village is east of Ktm, we could only get there on the local bus, which is slow and uncomfortable. My guides' village, which is north of Ktm (where I have stayed several times) is served by MBs, which have halved the time required compared to the local bus. However the MBs did not go to say Syabrubensi (for Langtang) at that time, as the road was too rough. This will keep changing.
You could get a "tourist" bus to Dumre, arrange to meet your guide there, let him sort out how to get from Dumre to BS, but there is some local "mafia" in Dumre which overcharges tourists using the local (ie public) bus. You should be able to get something from D to BS without too much hassle - I used the MB Ktm to BS as it is much easier, cheaper and quicker than splitting the bus journey at Dumre.
Public jeeps leave from BS to go as far as Khangsar(that is beyond Manang)these days. It takes a whole day even if starts early
Hey...thx! Manang would be too much of a drive...plus need to factor in some acclimatization therefore starting the hike at Chame (know the purists would still call this a bit too short!)
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